¹⁄700

JMSDF Hatsuyuki

"Crew-mate Dade W. Bell (Karybdis) sends us a fine gallery of images of his MSW "Cold War Tin Cans Campaign" build, in this "On Display" Feature!"



The Hatsuyuki (DD-122) is the leader of a class of 3rd generation destroyers built by the Japan Maritime Self Defense Force completed from 1982 to 1987. While previous JMSDF destroyer classes were listed as escorts mainly in the anti-submarine role, the Hatsuyuki class was created in the all-purpose role.

The Hatsuyuki has many aluminum components that were phased out in place of steel starting with the eight ship of the class, the Yamayuki. This was due to lessons learned from the Falklands War where a British destroyer's aluminum alloy structure caught fire from an Argentine anti-ship missile. As such, the later sisters in the class have a heavier displacement.

The Hatsuyuki and some of her sisters make appearances in the movies, Godzilla Against Mechagodzilla and Godzilla: Tokyo S.O.S.

Displacement: 2,950 long tons (2,997 t) standard
Length: 130 m (430 ft)
Beam: 13.6 m (44 ft 7 in)
Draft: 4.2 m (13 ft 9 in)
Speed: 30 knots (35 mph; 56 km/h)
Complement: 200
Armament: 1 × Otobreda 76 mm gun, 2 × 20 mm Phalanx CIWS, 2 × quad Harpoon SSM launchers, RIM-7 Sea Sparrow SAM Mark 29 launcher, ASROC anti-submarine rocket octuple launcher, 2 × Type 68 triple 324 mm (12.8 in) torpedo tubes
Aircraft carried: 1 × SH-60J(K) anti-submarine helicopter

The Model:

This was built for the Cold War Tin Cans Campaign. The model is the old release of Pit-Road's 1/700 kit (W-34) that depicts the Hatsuyuki in her earlier stage before she was fitted with two Phalanx CWIS guns. The SH-60 and P-3 are included in the kit.

While the model out of the box isn't bad, it soon becomes apparent that to properly depict the cage mast, PE will be needed. Pit-Road makes a dedicated set (PE122)that is mostly parts for the mast and radars, etc. Railings were not included, so these came from Tom's Model Works.

The water on the base is made using the aluminum foil method that I will depict in an upcoming article.